Punjab, KP Information Ministers Trade Barbs Over Remarks About Maryam Nawaz
LAHORE: A war of words has erupted between Punjab Information Minister Uzma Bukhari and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Minister Shafi Jan following remarks made by the latter about Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz during a session of the KP Assembly.
Speaking during the KP Assembly session, Shafi Jan referred to earlier remarks attributed to Maryam Nawaz regarding KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi’s movements during a visit to Lahore.
Taking a sarcastic tone, Shafi Jan said that the manner of getting in and out of vehicles described by Maryam Nawaz might be her own “characteristic” and not theirs.
یہ زبان اور حرکتیں جنگلیوں کی ہی ہوسکتی ہیں،پختون تو عورتوں کی عزت کرنے والے لوگ ہیں،یہ گھٹیا ذومعنی جملے اس موصوف کی تربیت دکھاتے ہیں،اسکی والدہ اور گھر کی باقی عورتوں کے لئے دلی ہمدردی ہے https://t.co/SfqQvvt1yX
— Azma Zahid Bokhari (@AzmaBokhariPMLN) September 22, 2026
Uzma Bukhari strongly reacted to the remarks and condemned what she described as inappropriate and double-meaning language.
She said the Pashtun community had traditionally been known for respecting women and the sanctity of the home. According to Bukhari, such language did not conform to political ethics and reflected the speaker’s upbringing.
“These words and actions can only come from uncivilised people. Pashtuns are known for respecting women,” Bukhari said in her reaction.
She further said that she felt sympathy for the women in Shafi Jan’s family after hearing such remarks.
The exchange between the two provincial information ministers has intensified the ongoing political rhetoric between the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governments.
